The Social and Emotional Development of the Gifted/Talented.

Overview & Synopsis

The author contends that a comprehensive approach to differentiating instruction for the gifted must involve values, feelings, personal growth, and interpersonal relations so the gifted child is free to realize his optimum potential. The paper describes some of the major adjustment problems faced by the gifted as well as some approaches to affective education. Sections address the following: problems of the gifted/talented/creative; curriculum implications of changing conceptions of man (individual versus holistic man, cooperation rather than competition); approaches to affective education; moral education; the new civism; values clarification; philosophy for children; moralizing and role modeling; group processes and perceptual psychology; games; situational ethics; social action; media and visual literacy; critical thinking; creativity; aesthetic education; humanistic education; the F. Williams Model for teaching thinking and feeling; and suggested principles for affective education programing. A nine page bibliography covering 35 subject areas concludes the document. (SBH)